HÀ NỘI— Talented tango dancers from Argentina and other countries will perform at the first ever festival of Argentinean tango dance in Việt Nam, to be held in Hà Nội on Saturday at 6.30pm.

The performance will be preceded by tango classes that are open free of charge to the public in Hà Nội, starting at 5pm. The star tango dance couple Juleta Biscione and Roberto Castillo from Argentina will teach the classes.

They are part of activities showcasing Argentinean culture, organised by the Embassy of Argentina in Việt Nam.

“We want to honour the value of tango which is a cultural identity of Argentina to the public in Việt Nam,” said Juan Pablo Volken, Head of Consular Section of the Embassy of Argentina.

“We are surprised to see that only one day after the information about the tango classes was published on the facebook page of the embassy, hundreds of people registered to take part in this event,” he said.

The event also aims to honour Carlos Gardel (1890-1935), a French-Argentinean singer and composer, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. Gardel’s baritone voice and the dramatic phrasing of his lyrics made miniature masterpieces of his hundreds of three-minute tango recordings.

On this occasion, 24 photos featuring beautiful landscapes of Argentina will be on display around Hoàn Kiếm lake, on Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, at weekends, during four days, on December 10, 11, 17 and 18.

“We want to present to the public in Việt Nam travel opportunities in our country. Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world and attracts the highest number of international tourists compared to other countries in the region, according to the World Tourism Organisation,” said Maria Belen Garcia Alcat, chargé d’affaires of the embassy.

Moreover, on this occasion, Yerba Mate tea , Argentina’s most commonly consumed beverage will also be presented to the public. A Yerba Mate tea tasting event will be held next Thursday at Melia Hotel, at 5pm, to present to the public the way to prepare Yerba Mate as well as the health benefits of this kind of drink.

More information about the week-long cultural programme can be found on the facebook page of the Embassy: https://www.facebook.com/ArgentinaEnVietnam.

The tango festival and tango classes will be held at Fitness Village, located at number 68, alley 50, lane 310 on Nghi Tàm Street in Tây Hồ District.— VNS